Bonaire Underwater

BONAIRE UNDERWATER

Viper Moray Eel

Dive Site -Corporal Meece./ Bonaire.

This 1.25 inch wide head is protruding from a hole in a Star Coral Head, the eel is about 2 feet long. This is my favorite site for photographing small eels, although I did find a giant green at this site.

Common Octopus

Dive Site: Salt Pier

I found this medium size octopus 48 min into the dive underneath the main pier platform, and spent the next 40 minutes watching it hunt. We find that if we stay about 15 feet away, remain quite with few movements, the octopus it will sometimes return to its hunting routine rather than hide.

Spotted Eagle Ray

My wife and I watched this eagle ray feed for 1 hour early in the AM at Invisibles it slowly swam a grid pattern consuming animals under the sand and had just finish eating and was swimming upward when this photo was taken. Typically eagle rays will swim off, but if caught feeding they will sometimes allow our close approach, if we stay 30 feet away for 10 minutes until they grow accustomed to our presence. This is my favorite dive of the last year.

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp on Giant Anemone

Something Special/ Bonaire

1 inch long. This little fellow cleaned the dead skin off my fingers, a pleasant manicure. Feeding stations often attract many species to be cleaned of parasites including various eels and large fish like barracuda. This species always enhances my enjoyment of a dive.

Red Rope Sponge Under Salt Pier

Notice there is a free diver with an ascent line to the right side of the pier. Bonaire has been harvesting salt since the 16th century, it is loaded onto ships at this large pier, this is one of 7 platforms. Cargill currently operates the large salt works utilizing evaporated sea water.

Green Sea Turtle

Salt Pier/Bonaire

Turtles feed on turtle grass growing on the bottom at depth of 5 to 10 feet. I like to act like a feeding turtle and they sometimes allow me very close.

Christmas Tree Worm on Brain Coral

Bonaire

These worms live in holes inside the Coral; they will disappear into their holes in a split second when disturbed.

Balloon Fish

Something Special/Bonaire

These fish inflate with water when disturbed and the spines then point outward. They tend to turn their head away, so a straight on shot is atypical and I was delighted to get this view. Notice the iridescent spots in the eyes. This is one of my wife's favorites.

Cryptic Teardrop Crab

Oil Pier/Bonaire

8 mm wide, only seen at night.

Caribbean Reef Squid

Dive Site- Aquarius

Branching Tube Sponges

A pop of color on a dark wreck.

Dive Site-Hilma Hooker

The sponges are growing on the ships crane; the stern is to the left.

Pelican

Dive Site-Salt Pier

I was in 4 feet of water at the exit with 3 foot wave breaking over the camera. My wife informs me that I was buzzed by a Pelican while on the surface looking down; apparently it mistook my white mask strap for a fish.

Big Eyed Scad

Dive Site-Saltpier

Orange Spotted Blenny

Dive Site- Oil Pier

Yellowhead Jawfish with Eggs

Dive Site- Cha Cha Beach

3 inches long. The Female lays eggs in the males den and he cares for them until the release on the night of a full moon. The eggs are airated by taking them out of the den in his mouth, sometimes he will spit them out and suck them back in.